U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan. and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. announced the Committee will hold its first field hearing of the 115th Congress in Manhattan on the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization.
“It’s time to get to work on another Farm Bill, and we’re heading straight to the heartland to talk directly to producers,” said Chairman Roberts. “I can’t think of a more appropriate venue to hold this hearing than Manhattan, the home of Kansas State University, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, and Kansas Farm Bureau. Our producers have had time to employ the programs in the current Farm Bill, and they have a lot to say. We need clear direction on what is working and what is not working in farm country, and we will be listening to see what needs to be adjusted. As I said at the beginning of the 114th Congress, I will put farmers and ranchers first in the Senate Agriculture Committee. As we begin to have discussions about the next Farm Bill, we will need input from farmers and families all across the country,” said Ranking Member Stabenow. “I am looking forward to this first field hearing in Chairman Roberts’ home state to hear directly from producers and others who care about rural America so we can craft a bill that continues to strengthen American agriculture as well as small towns and rural communities.”
The hearing will feature testimony from a variety of agricultural producers, who will be announced shortly.
Hearing from the Heartland: Perspectives on the 2018 Farm Bill from Kansas will be held at a time yet to be determined on Feb. 23, at McCain Auditorium, Kansas State University, 1501 Goldstein Circe in Manhattan. The hearing will be webcast live on ag.senate.gov.